A FAITH CRISIS

CHAPTER ONE

Situated in Westfield Indiana...

It was a warm Friday morning just before school. She needed to say a few words to Him. "Thank You Father, I can feel Your love all around me. Please help me...." She was in the middle of her prayers when she heard the familiar nagging from across her room door. "Sara come out of that room right now!" Mrs Cross was happy about her daughter's new found faith or was she? "Seth can't you see?" She said as she went down the hall to meet her husband. "This God of hers asks for all of her and soon our daughter will be gone." "Martha will you calm down! You worry way too much" "Okay fine! But don't say I didn't say so"

"Hey Sara. What's got you crossed?" Allison said approaching her with an awful dad joke. "Some old same old nothing much really" Sara and Allison went way back. From 8th grade till senior year it was quite a peculiar friendship. Sara was the calm, calculative one who had a dark side and Allison was an open book with a spot for getting into trouble. Somehow they balanced themselves perfectly. "Hey you okay?" Allison asked noticing her apathy. Sara was quite bright and cheerful and would definitely be energetic on a morning like this. "No, not really. I don't understand why He is testing me like this. I mean just last year my parents were on me telling me to get my head straight and now that it is, they have a problem with it." It had been going on like this for a while. She was constantly stuck between a rock and a hard place in choosing between her parents and her new found beliefs. "I'm so sorry Sara, things will get better I promise." Allison replied putting her hand on her arm. "OMG!!! He's here!" Allison squealed abruptly as all the color from her face drained. "What! Who's here? And are you okay? You look like you're going to pass out. "Daniel." "Daniel was Sara's childhood friend they grew up together, went to the same church and school all their lives, his father was their pastor. They knew each other in and out and shared every secret. It was like they were actual siblings, but there was something about him lately that Sara didn't really understand. The way he behaved and talked made her stomach churn in a bad way. She had tried talking to Allison about it but she was so blinded by him or as she would call it "love" that she wouldn't have anything except praises said about him. Sara began to ponder on what could be wrong with her old friend.

"Hello dreamer" Daniel said waving his hand over her face. "Hey Daniel" Allison chirped in quickly "Umm. Hey Daniel" She said as she tried to contain her feelings. Allison had developed an addictive crush well over a year ago. It did hurt that he wouldn't notice her and it broke her heart more to know that he was in a relationship but what bothered her the most was that he obviously had feelings for Sara and sooner or later they would be exposed and now she didn't know whether to anticipate or dread her friend's response but for now she just wanted to believe that in a far future she could actually be with him. After all, Westfield was a small town. People grew up there, went to school there, went off to college and then came back and got a job and a family and settled there for the rest of their lives. So in a few years, she really could have a shot and she was definitely going to wait it out. "Well hi Daniel" Sara finally responded. "Ah she's back" Daniel teased. "Oh my God you are so funny" She said sarcastically as she rolled her eyed at him. "Whatever. I have some news. Drumroll please" He said banging on her locker excitedly. "I got a new car" He said eyes bouncing. "Wow I'm shocked your dad got you a new one considering what you did to the last one." "Hey, hey, hey it wasn't really my fault and you know that. How was I supposed to know that sign would fall where I parked the car" "I don't know what you are talking about but now I do know you owe me a ride" "So that's what this is about? Well anytime you are ready let me know and I'll come running" A laughter rose between them but quickly died down. The awkwardness was back. It happened almost every time they were together recently and it was quite uncomfortable. Sara couldn't really understand what it was but she did know that her friend was different and she so desperately wanted to find out what was wrong. She'd asked him numerous times but he always found a way to change the subject or tell her that she was way in over her head. "Well leave it to Sara and Daniel to make me feel invisible" Allison said just as awkwardly as the air between them. Daniel chuckled and put his arm around her to ease her and her cheeks flushed hot red. He obviously could not see or chose to be oblivious to the fact that she liked him a lot. "Umm....We should...We should get to class" Sara stammered as she turned back to her locker to pick the rest of her books just as the bell rang. "Wassup Sara" A voice came from behind her. She turned around to see her very good friend Victor Rodriguez. Sara and Victor shared a special bond which was very different from the one she shared with Allison or Daniel. Their friendship was unique especially because she had been there for him in his darkest times from when he was being bullied to when he almost committed suicide. She had been there as a friend but also as a guide, praying for him and encouraging him and of course she was there the day he gave his heart to the Lord. "Victor" She smiled as she opened her arms to embrace him. "We have a lot to talk about" Victor said as he drew from her embrace "Ok froyo store at 8? Saturday" "Saturday it is then" He smiled faintly and then looked around seemingly just noticing the other two standing a few feet away. "Morning guys" A small chorus erupted from them as they moved into class for their first subject for the day. Biology.

"So, you will all be grouped in fives this week and at the end of this week, a presentation will be required from you all which will make a huge percentage of your grades understood?" The class chorused their agreements. "Mr Pearson's, do you want to tell me what is so funny by all means please do share it with the class" Mr. Blair said directly at Daniel. Everyone did have that one teacher that was excruciatingly annoying. "Yeah, tell us about it hottie" Riley Jackson yelled from the back of the classroom. He looked at her and then gave a seductive smirk. Sara looked on in shock, for the last few weeks, Daniel had changed from the young, passionate man who's heartbeat was for God and started hanging out with people they had sworn they could never let themselves get involved with. They didn't share their beliefs and got themselves into all manner of acts. Acts that Sara remembered all too well as she was involved in the same up until the end of freshman year. "Well Sir It's really nothing of interest." "Enlighten us" Riley yelled again from the back. Riley Jackson, Sara thought, the girl who took the school by storm when she transferred into Westfield High School and in a week, rumors of s****l activities were already spreading, she had dated like 4 guys in six months. Now she was after Daniel. Either he knew and was playing with fire or he was just too blind to see it and she would have to warn him. The bell rang at the moment. "Alright class, get out of here. Don't forget your presentations are due at the end of the week" Mr Blair said as the students stormed out. As they walked out into the hallway, Riley walked up to Daniel "Hey I would still like for you to enlighten me how bout at my party tonight" She said with a smirk as she let her had slide down his arm while biting on her bottom lip. "Sure why not?" Daniel replied and smiled. "I'll have to do something about this" Sara whispered to Victor. "I think it may be too late for that" He said as they looked on and saw Riley flirting and Daniel giving in. "I hope not" She said worriedly. They went off to their next class and soon the day was over.